Congressional hearing held on VA bonuses

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VA workers get bonuses, deny veterans - September 22, 2009

A House subcommittee spent Wednesday morning discussing the issue of bonuses for employees in the Department of Veteran Affairs.

We brought the information we found about bonuses being paid to local VA workers to Congressman Tom Perriello. who said he would take the issue to Washington.

Periello could not sit in on today's meeting, but his press secretary did.

"The members of Congress who were there felt strongly that bonuses should be secondary to getting the backlog of claims processed. That even in the cases where performance bonuses were warranted, the veterans should be taken care of first.", says Perriello Press Secretary Jessica Barba.

Our 10 On Your Side investigation uncovering bonuses paid at Roanoke's regional Veterans Affairs office got you talking on our Web site.

Many have something to say about the salaries being paid to VA workers. Since those salaries are paid from our tax dollars, we posted the list online.

One viewer, the wife of a veteran writes, "They make more than soldiers that are serving overseas."

"...the public disclosure of the personal information should never have happened.", writes another viewer.

Many agree. Some cite a notice at the bottom of the salary list prohibiting unauthorized disclosure of the information. That notice is for VA employees. We obtained the salary information, which is public record, through the Freedom of Information Act.

In our request we specifically asked for names, salaries and bonuses and clearly stated the information would be used to inform the public. The VA promptly complied, under the law, with our request.

We consulted two attorneys who both tell us the Privacy Act of 1974 only applies to government agencies, not the media, and we're protected by the First Amendment.

Another topic being discusses is what VA employees did to earn the bonuses. One viewer writes, "If the VA just handed out money at the veteran's request with no checks or standards, you'd be decrying their "fleecing of America".

All of the veterans we interviewed have kept meticulous records making their cases.

Another viewer accused WSLS of, "...ignoring the fact that bonuses are paid at the va based on the number of veterans served."

But there's a difference between served and helped. How many of those veterans' claims were approved? How many were denied, rightfully or wrongly? We've tried to get answers to those questions from someone at the VA. Our second request for an interview was declined.

If and when anyone at the VA agrees to an interview, we'll let you know what they tell us.

We were contacted by Steve Bast, who retired as personnel director of the Roanoke VA regional office in January.

Bast says workers are not rewarded for deliberately denying a veteran's claim. He tells us performance awards are given to workers who significantly exceed their performance requirements when it comes to processing claims. That means reaching decisions whether those decisions are approvals, denials or requests for more evidence.